Jason Hidalgo|jhidalgo@rgj.com
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And on the 20th day of the 10th month, Nintendo doth revealed the Nintendo Switch. But was it very good?
After much suspense and cloak-and-dagger shenanigans marked by all sorts of leaks, the “Big N” finally revealed the actual design for its next console. Previously codenamed the NX, the new device now has an official name, the Switch. Admittedly, that sounds very normal by Nintendo game console standards but at least no one will confuse it with the Wii.
That being said, I haven’t been this excited about a new console since the PlayStation 3. New console releases used to get me hyped up, with each unboxing feeling like the morning after Christmas. With the PlayStation 4, Wii U and Xbox One, however, I felt decidedly low key while unpacking them. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or underwhelmed. I guess you can say that I just simply felt “whelmed.”
“Maybe I’m just getting old,” I thought to myself.
Then details about the NX started to leak. For the first time in a long while, I actually felt … excited. Thinking about it now, I probably felt the way I did about the other three consoles because they seemed like basic upgrades to the systems they were replacing. Only the Wii U did something different with its tablet but that controller’s potential was never truly realized.
The Switch, however, is a different beast. This one felt like an actual new system as opposed to, say, a less powerful PC gaming alternative. On that note, here’s what we know so far about the console as well as thoughts on some information Nintendo has yet to release about it:
What we know
It’s a hybrid system: As expected, the Nintendo Switch will be a hybrid system that can be used for TV play when docked and portable gaming when detached. This is great for folks who enjoy the flexibility of being able to play on a big screen at home or on a smaller screen while traveling or visiting friends and family. You will be able to play Skyrim on the go, for example, while fans of Monster Hunter — if it’s ever officially announced (please, please, pretty please) — can finally play on the big screen again.
Its controllers are called “Joy-Con”: Now this sounds more like Nintendo-inspired naming right here. The Switch will come with two mini controllers called the Joy-Con that can function in tandem for solo play or separately for co-op or multiplayer. Each Joy-Con comes with an analog stick and four face buttons as well as shoulder buttons, allowing for both classic and modern control configurations. In addition to attaching on the portable display’s sides for gaming on the go, the Joy-Con controllers also can be attached to the Joy-Con Grip for a traditional control scheme during TV play.
It’s powered by NVIDIA: In its official blog, NVIDIA confirmed that the Switch will be powered by a custom Tegra processor, including a GPU based on its GeForce technology. It’s not confirmed if the Nintendo Switch Dock, which the portable display connects to for TV play, has separate processors for improved performance in TV mode.
It uses cartridges: Cartridges make a return to a Nintendo home console, which makes sense given how much storage card technology has improved these days. In addition to fewer moving parts, loading times should also be improved so this should be a good move provided it doesn’t raise the cost of games.
It allows various portable multiplayer options: The reveal video showed different configurations such as two people playing on one portable display and several people playing around various portable displays propped up with kickstands. I see this feature being especially popular in Japan but it’s still neat for folks in the West such as myself who like gaming next to other people. Speaking of Japan, the Switch is kind of big in portable mode so I’m not sure how easy it would be to lug around, especially given the dominance of phones for gaming in that country right now. For me, though, that big portable screen is much welcome.
Third-party support looks solid: The list of third-party partners that Nintendo released is pretty comprehensive. In addition to Japanese stalwarts such as Capcom, Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Atlus and From Software, it also includes Western heavyweights such as Activision, EA and Ubisoft. The inclusion of the latter could be an indication that porting games to the new system isn’t difficult. The question now, of course, is how many of those third-party publishers will stay committed to the system, which will likely depend on adoption numbers among gamers as well as attach rates.
It has an optional, traditional gamepad: If you prefer “normal” controllers, the system also works with a new Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It won’t come with the base system, though, as it’s optional so it looks like you’ll have to buy it separately.
Its release date: The system will be out in March 2017.
What we don’t know
Its battery life: Nintendo has yet to release details on how long the portable display lasts on a single charge. Tablets such as the iPad typically boast 10 hours but that goes much quicker when used for gaming. As a frequent traveler, I’m personally hoping for at least six hours, which sounds like a reasonable compromise.
Touch functionality: Speaking of tablets, one of the noticeable words missing from Nintendo’s initial press release about the Switch is “tablet.” Using the word would certainly imply touch functionality but that has not been confirmed by Nintendo during the reveal.
Motion capability: Motion controls have been a feature for Nintendo home consoles since the Wii U. The detached Joy-Con controllers remind me a bit of the Wiimote but the initial reveal did not show if they are motion compatible.
Its resolution: Nintendo boasts “bright high-definition display” for the Switch but did not provide actual resolution numbers during the reveal. The expectation is at least 1080p for TV and 720p for the portable display, with the latter making sense from a battery-saving standpoint.
Cost: Pricing is definitely a big deal for gamers but the initial announcement did not include pricing details. The Wii U launched at $300, a number Nintendo never budged on despite price cuts for the base PS4 and Xbox One. I’m not sure if Nintendo still considers that the sweet spot for the Switch but it really can’t go much higher than that given the options from the competition.
Backward compatibility: With no disc drive, backwards compatibility is pretty much a goner for Wii and Wii U games unless there’s some super secret drive hidden in that Switch Dock. That would likely raise the price of the system, however, so I’m doubtful that would be the case. As for 3DS compatibility, that remains to be seen. Maybe this is what Nintendo meant when it said the new system is not a replacement for the 3DS and Wii U.
Region lock: Region locking the 3DS was one of the biggest bummers for me as the owner of every major Nintendo portable console. As someone who’s been buying Japanese games for decades, it would be a big deal if Nintendo decides to remove region locking from the Switch. Even with concerns about hacking, locking consoles by territory is honestly an anachronism at this point that impacts a console’s most loyal customers the most. No region locking also makes more sense in today’s digital world.
